In Mexico, these “Chicharrones” are a common snack served with Valentina sauce for a nice spicy, crunchy snack. Then Taco Bell came along and made them into these addicting sweet treats – now they’re the best of both worlds! These easy Cinnamon Twists are a breeze to prep. Make them sweet or spicy to please the whole family.
Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists
Sometimes you just need a bright spot in your day, and that bright spot is Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists. But other times you don’t want to leave the house and go through the drive-thru (personal experience speaking here). So, what then?
I’ll tell you. Homemade Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists. That’s what you need.
These easy cinnamon twists are the BEST sweet treat to snack on. They’re puffed to perfection, slightly crispy, and they’re sugary-sweet, too. Covered in an addicting mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon, you will not be able to stop at just one of these little guys. You’ll crave the whole batch. And why shouldn’t you? You deserve it. :)
Did I mention that these cinnamon twists are so easy to make? Because they are! They take literally 1-2 minutes per batch to fry, and then you get to dig in. Quick snack and dessert recipes are just the best, you know?
Love Taco Bell? I also have copycat recipes for Taco Bell Mexican Pizza and Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito!
What Are Duros?
Duros are a Mexican snack food that is also a puffed wheat pasta. Most pastas don’t puff up when you cook them, but this one does, making it perfect for whatever seasoning you prefer.
Duros are traditionally made with chili powder and lime to create a spicy snack, but here they are coated in sugar and cinnamon for a sweet treat.
What You’ll Need
These cinnamon twists are made with 4 ingredients. That’s right – just 4! It doesn’t get much more simple than that. Here’s the rundown of everything you’ll need, and where to find duros:
- Duros: These are Mexican wheat pellet twists. Duros can be found in most Mexican stores or on Amazon. You can also find them in other shapes. These are often referred to as chicharrones, although they are just imitation chicharrones.
- Canola Oil: For frying. You can also use peanut oil, if you want.
- Sugar: You’ll just need granulated sugar for this recipe.
- Cinnamon: For added sweetness and flavor!
How to Make Cinnamon Twists
If you thought the ingredient list was simple, take a look at this cinnamon-twist-making process! It’s just as easy to read through, and complete. Once you fry and puff up these pasta spirals, just coat them with sugar and enjoy! This is how you do it:
Heat the Oil: Pour oil in a deep pan about 2 inches deep. Heat to 350°F.
Add About 10 Duros to the Hot Oil: They will puff up quickly. Make sure there are no dark spots – push them down in the oil if needed to finish cooking.
Line a Pan with Paper Towels: Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cooked duros out and place on the paper towels. Continue cooking the duros in batches until they are all cooked.
Coat the Duros in Sugar & Cinnamon: Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and toss the puffed duros into a ziplock bag and toss with the cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately.
Tips for Success
Looking for some tips on how to make the best copycat cinnamon twists? Good, I’ve got a few to help you out! Here’s what you need to know before finally starting:
- For Spicy Twists: You can serve these duros the more traditional, spicy way, by tossing the fried twists in Valentina sauce.
- What Temp Should I Fry the Duros At? Your frying temperature should be 350°F.
- How to Know When Duros Are Cooked: They will be a light color all the way around when completely puffed. If they are too crunchy, they are probably not cooked through. Light and crispy is the goal.
- Can I Use Another Pasta Instead of Duros? Not really. Other pastas don’t puff up like duros do, so I don’t recommend substituting them with anything.
- Don’t Cook Too Many At Once: Give these twists room to puff up – if the pan is too crowded, they might not cook through all the way.
- Coat with Sugar & Cinnamon Immediately: Sprinkle the sugar on while the puffs are still hot! That way you can be sure the sugar will stick, and the twists will be evenly seasoned.
How to Store Extras
Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on how many twists you want to eat – these cinnamon twists are truly best served fresh. They do not taste as good as leftovers, so I don’t recommend trying to store them.
Taco Bell Copycat Cinnamon Twists
Ingredients
- Canola oil, or peanut oil, for frying
- 1 ½ cups duros, spiral shaped
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Pour oil in a deep pan about 2 inches deep. Heat to 350°F.
- Add about 10 duros to the hot oil and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. They will puff up quickly. Make sure there are no dark spots, push them down in the oil if needed to finish cooking. They will be a light color all the way around when completely puffed. If they are too crunchy, they are probably not cooked through. Light and crispy is how they should be.
- Line a pan with paper towels. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cooked duros out and place on the paper towels. Continue cooking the duros in batches until they are all cooked.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and toss the puffed duros into a ziplock bag and toss with the cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Categories:
More Copycat Recipes to Try
Ready to try some more easy copycat ideas? If so, I’ve got a couple:
- Chick Fil A Milkshake: Cookies and Cream
- Maggiano’s Chopped Salad
- Panera’s Creamy Tomato Soup
- Coconut Rice Pudding: Disney Cruise Copycat Recipe
- Wendy’s Frosty Recipe
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They seem so tasty! You think they might work with regular store-bought pasta?
Hi Shahd! It won’t have the same texture sadly. Regular pasta does not fluff up and become airy.
What are duros do you buy them in a grocery store or on line?
Hi Linda! I purchase duros on amazon (I have linked them in the post above), but you can sometimes find them in latin grocery stores.
There’s more info in the post, but duros are a Mexican snack food that is also a puffed wheat pasta.